Change of the Season #2

Washington, DC is a city of contrasts – wealthy and poor, homed and homeless, powerful and powerless, caused and causeless, Democrat and Republican, sane and insane, executive & legislative & judicial, suburbanites with elected representatives (with a vote) in Congress and DC residents with no representation (with a vote) in Congress.

From Places

Preparations for the Holiday season began this week. In the Ellipse, south of the White House, construction started on the stage near the White House Christmas (Holiday) Tree.

From Places

The work of decorating the tree began this week as well – workmen began putting the lights on the tree. People frequently call this tree the “National Christmas/Holiday” Tree. But there is not a “national” tree. This one is the “White House Tree.” At the other end of the Mall, Congress has its own “Christmas/Holiday” tree on the west side of the Capitol.

At one time, the White House tree was a cut tree erected on the ellipse. Now the tree is a live tree growing at the ellipse. What appears to be a net on tree above are the strings of lights that have been placed on the tree.

At the Lincoln Memorial, a huge sign “Congratulations President Obama, Change Won’t Be Easy but . . .Together, As One World, Yes We Can” has been erected at the foot of the reflecting pool. People are invited to write their congratulations or just sign their names to the sign.

From Places

As another sign of the Presidential transition, the Bush’s invited the Obama’s to visit the White House.

A different type of housing appeared on the National Mall. A city of “Tents for Hope” calling attention to the blight of the Sudan and Darfur was erected by youth from across the United States.

From Places

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Work continued on the stage construction on the west face of the Capitol.

From Places

On November 11th, there was a demonstration on the Capitol grounds in support of the right for the District to have representation in Congress. Back in the summer of 2007, Sen. Barack Obama stood near a community center with D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and said: "Folks in D.C. still don't have a voice in their national government. That's wrong. Residents shouldn't be treated like tenants." DC residents are rallying behind the “Yes We Can” slogan.

Meanwhile, the Secret Service and the DC Police formally announce the security restrictions for the area of the Obama Transition Headquarters.

The Secret Service determined that the following street closures and parking restrictions are necessary to provide for security and safety for the presidential transition staff being housed in the former SEC building on E Street between 5th and 6th streets. Until further notice the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) advised that the following closures/restrictions will be in place.

• D Street, NW between 5th and 6th is closed to vehicular traffic and parking is limited to official cars.

• Northbound 6th Street St, NW, between Indiana Avenue and E Street, is reduced to one lane of traffic. The other 2 northbound lanes are blocked off.

• Indiana Avenue, NW, between 5th and 6th Streets, has been temporarily converted to accommodate two-way traffic until the traffic restrictions are lifted on D Street.

• Parking is NOT allowed on the west side of 5th Street, NW, between Indiana Avenue and E Street.
• Parking is NOT allowed in the curb lane on the south side of E Street, NW, between 5th and 6th Streets.

• The east side of 6th Street is closed to pedestrians and though DDOT did not say so, it appears that D Street may also be closed to pedestrians.

The intersection of 6th and E was a “seat of power” already with the AARP national headquarters on the NW corner, the National Science Foundation on the NE corner. The Obama Transition offices are on the SE corner. Maybe I should stake myself out on the SW corner to see if there is any foot traffic between AARP and the transition offices.

In other signs of transition, news appeared this week on the new limo’s for the President. According to the press, the new vehicles look like Cadillac’s but are built on GMC truck frames. New limo’s for the President are added to the fleet every 8 years. The old vehicles become part of the fleet used to transport high ranking dignitaries visiting Washington, DC.

From Places

Meanwhile, the tree leaves are changing colors and falling. It won’t be long until I have an unobstructed view of the buildings across the street.

From Places

As one of the last Bush hoorays, the G20 group is meeting this weekend to discuss the world economy. It is interesting that Bush is hosting this event so close to the end of his term. Word is the foreign dignitaries would rather be meeting with Obama due to the perception that Bush is already “disengaged.” (Some of us might wonder if Bush was ever engaged). The meeting is being held a couple of blocks away at the National Building Museum. While there have been notices about security restrictions, I was surprised to find the south bound lanes of my street blocked by the police as it had not be included in the previous notices of closures. The neighborhood association had provided some information:

“Be prepared for temporary road closures and detours that may take place throughout the District on Friday, November 14, and Saturday, November 15, due to the G20 Summit. The majority of these closures will be temporary; please stay alert and be patient.

Please read the following


The Secret Service and the Special Operations Division of the Metropolitan Police Department have been exceptionally helpful and cognizant of the difficulties residents and entertainment venues could have due to street closings. Their perimeter area took all of this into account and I think no residential building or venue needing vehicular access will have a problem.

However, on the spot changes can be made for unknown (to us) reasons. So just in case this occurs and you cannot get to your building garage or loading dock via a cordoned-off street after presenting a photo ID, please just nicely ask to speak to a supervisor and explain the problem to the supervisor. An officer is required to seek a supervisor if requested. If there are any problems after doing so, please write down the name and badge number of the officer and send me an email that I can then forward to those in charge. But please be nice at all times; sometimes officers on the street are not familiar with the diversity of uses in Penn Quarter, and have not received or not absorbed all the necessary details.”

It's reassuring to know that an officer must call a supervisor if requested.

To keep the today interesting, this afternoon, gay activists will be marching from the Capitol to the White House in protest of California Proposition 8 defeat.

-- November 15, 2008